www.myharrisonreport.com
Vol. 12/Number 28
A STAR-SPANGLED SALUTE A spectacle lit up the sky over the Project Homerun site at the corner of Harrison and Oakland avenues on July 4. Residents gathered for the annual downtown fireworks show, which has become a town tradition. For more, see pages 10-11. Photo/Daniel Offner
Officials clarify policy on commercial parking By DANIEL OFFNER STAFF REPORTER dan@hometwn.com
When the town banned the parking of commercial vehicles on Harrison streets overnight, contractor Ken Fusco didn’t seem to mind. Fusco’s business on Purdy Street was in a commercial zone, so he continued parking one vehicle across the street each night assuming he was exempted under the cur-
rent policy. Then he got a ticket. “They basically rewrote the rules to say that even though I have a commercial zoned district, I don’t have the ability to park a commercial vehicle overnight,” Fusco said. “The fact that this takes precedent when there are so many more important issues to worry about is just disgusting.” Fusco received several addi-
tional tickets for the same violation. Should things continue, Fusco said, he would have no choice but to pack up his business and leave. An already-controversial ban on commercial vehicle parking became even more of a potboiler on July 5, when town officials amended the language of the existing ban so that it clearly included all town streets and not solely residential ones. BAN continued on page 8
Town Council won’t chip in for library project By DANIEL OFFNER STAFF REPORTER dan@hometwn.com
Citing a difficult fiscal climate in town, the Harrison Town Council said “no” to boosting funding for a downtown library renovation project. At a special work session on July 5, elected officials swiftly rejected the option of contributing to the construction project, which the
library is seeking to fund through donations. “We are aware these are very difficult times for the economy,” said Councilwoman Marlene Amelio. “But we truly do not have the funds.” The current library, which has not seen a renovation since 1984, is set for an expansion that will cost roughly $3 million and would add
an additional 1,200 square feet to its existing structure. When the architectural firm H3Hardy first presented its concept design last October, members of the Library Board of Trustees did not feel it would require any of the town’s funding. This was primarily because of a $1 million dollar pledged contribution from the Richard E. Halperin LIBRARY continued on page 14
July 13, 2012
Harrison water rates hiked 17 percent By DANIEL OFFNER STAFF REPORTER dan@hometwn.com
The Harrison Town Council approved a 17 percent water rate hike on July 5, just days after a relatively nominal–yet nonetheless dramatic– 11 percent increase was estimated by town officials. The 3-2 approval of the new rates came after representatives of Westchester Joint Water Works made a public presentation, which had several members of the council scoffing at the fiscal management of the utility. The Westchester Joint Water Works, a utility jointly run by municipal leaders in Mamaroneck and Harrison, proposed the town approve the hike for the 2012-2013 fiscal year in order to keep up with the increased cost of supply from New York City, where the water works purchases its water. The city increased its sales rates by 9.8 percent. David Birdsall, the business director of the water works, explained that whenever the city levies an increase, the water works must alter the rating structure in each of its municipalities it services. “We have a system that was perhaps not at a level it should have been,” Birdsall said. “But this rate is something we expect will balance out quite well going forward.” Based on figures provided by Birdsall prior to the increase, the adopted base rate will increase by 55 cents to a fee of $3.76 per 100 cubic feet. This tier is the lowest applicable cost up to 6,600 cubic feet of water provided. For residents, the typical costs will increase to a calculated $4.53 rate per 100 cubic feet of water pumped into their homes. This rate tier maxes out at roughly 15,000 cubic feet. The highest costing tier, for residents exceeding the 15,000 cubic feet, will increase 77 cents to
a rate of $5.31 per 100 cubic feet. Additional surcharges will also be included on resident’s upcoming water bill. However, members of Harrison’s Town Council became dismayed upon learning the proposed rate increase was 7.2 percent higher than the mandatory rate from the city Department of Environmental Protection. According to water works Manager Anthony Conetta, this was primarily due to a 12 percent increase to the operating budget. This consists of several capital expenses including rehabilitation to two of the town’s pump stations–one on Park Lane and one on Woodside Avenue–and the cost of a new SCADA water radar system, which monitors water usage. “The status of our current SCADA system is primitive at best,” Conetta said. Councilman Steve Malfitano, a Republican who as mayor of the town from 2002-2007 sat on the water works Board of Directors, was especially aggravated in finding a capital line item budgeted as an operating expense. “This raises the question of what else is included in the operating budget,” Malfitano said. “I almost want to say, ‘go back and sharpen your pencil.’” Both Councilman Malfitano and Republican Councilman Joe Cannella opposed the rate increase because of the addition of a $350,000 capital expense to the operating budget would cost more for a short-term expense. “Rather than advertising it in 10 or 12 years, you intend to knock it all out in one year,” Cannella said. “This should’ve been a capital expense and not done all at once.” In the past, when the water works increased its local rates, municipal WATER continued on page 3